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Extended School Year (ESY) services are specialized educational programs provided beyond the regular school year for children with special educational needs (SEN). ESY is designed to help students maintain progress, prevent regression, and continue their development during long breaks, such as summer vacations or other holiday periods. These services are a critical component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), ensuring that students with disabilities receive the continuous support they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
The primary goal of ESY services is to prevent significant learning loss or skill regression that can occur during extended breaks from regular schooling. For some children, especially those with disabilities, a long interruption in structured learning can lead to a decline in previously acquired skills. ESY provides targeted interventions and educational support to ensure that students retain their progress and continue to develop essential skills in areas such as:
Reading, writing, mathematics, and other core subjects.
Interaction with peers, communication, and emotional regulation.
Daily living skills, adaptive behaviors, and functional independence.
E.L.A.H.A (Early Learning and Holistic Assessment) provides an integrated approach to assessing and supporting children during both the regular school year and extended breaks. E.L.A.H.A helps schools identify which students require ESY services by analyzing key indicators of potential regression and progress, and then provides a framework for delivering personalized support throughout the extended school year.
E.L.A.H.A uses a combination of holistic assessments, such as the Leuven Scale for Well-being, and cognitive assessments to track each child’s academic and developmental progress. This data provides insight into whether a child is at risk of regressing during school breaks and whether they would benefit from ESY services.
Based on the assessments conducted through E.L.A.H.A, an individualized ESY plan is created for each child who qualifies for these services. The plan is an extension of the child’s IEP, outlining the goals, strategies, and support services that will be provided during the extended school year. These goals focus on maintaining skills that are most at risk of regression, including academic, social, and functional skills.
E.L.A.H.A offers ongoing progress monitoring during the ESY period to ensure that students are maintaining their skills and continuing to grow. These assessments are conducted at regular intervals and are compared to baseline data from the regular school year. If the child shows signs of regression or struggles to maintain progress, E.L.A.H.A helps identify the need for further adjustments to the ESY plan.
E.L.A.H.A promotes a collaborative approach to ESY planning, involving parents, educators, therapists, and other support staff. Parents play a critical role in the decision-making process, as they are often the first to notice signs of regression during school breaks. Through E.L.A.H.A’s clear reporting and data-sharing tools, families can stay informed about their child’s needs and progress throughout the extended school year.
ESY services are tailored to the specific needs of each child and can vary based on the goals outlined in the child’s IEP. With E.L.A.H.A’s detailed assessments and personalized recommendations, the following types of services may be provided:
E.L.A.H.A helps identify the areas where a child is most at risk of falling behind, such as literacy, numeracy, or critical thinking skills.
For children receiving specialized therapies during the regular school year, E.L.A.H.A assessments can help determine whether ongoing therapy during the summer is needed to prevent regression.
E.L.A.H.A assesses a child’s social interactions and emotional well-being to determine if they need extra support in developing these skills.
Some children may require support in developing life skills, such as self-care, mobility, or independent living skills.
E.L.A.H.A ensures that ESY services are specifically tailored to the child’s individual needs. By using data from ongoing assessments, schools can deliver targeted interventions where they are most needed.
By providing consistent educational support during extended breaks, E.L.A.H.A-driven ESY services help prevent the regression of critical academic, social, and functional skills.
E.L.A.H.A takes into account not only academic progress but also emotional, social, and physical development. This holistic approach ensures that ESY services address the whole child, not just isolated academic challenges.
ESY services under E.L.A.H.A encourage collaboration between families, educators, and specialists. By keeping everyone informed and involved, the child receives well-rounded and consistent support throughout the school year and beyond.
ESY plans are dynamic and adaptable. E.L.A.H.A’s continuous progress monitoring allows educators to adjust strategies based on real-time data, ensuring that the child is receiving the most effective support at all times.
Extended School Year (ESY) services play a crucial role in supporting children with special educational needs, especially during long breaks when they are most at risk of regressing in their academic and developmental progress. E.L.A.H.A enhances these services by providing comprehensive assessments, personalized learning plans, and ongoing progress monitoring.
By using E.L.A.H.A, schools can ensure that children continue to grow and develop, even outside the regular school year, creating a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.
Through ESY, E.L.A.H.A helps schools uphold their commitment to the long-term success of every child, ensuring that they receive the continuous care and education they need to reach their full potential.
Supporting Schools, Children and Parents with a Holistic Approach to Education
This is an in-house service where an E.L.A.H.A support worker is integrated into your school, offering the highest level of support for both your staff and students. This personalized approach ensures comprehensive assistance tailored to your school’s unique needs.